The Half-Elf Must Be Nervous

[Goken100]

So I was telling my friend about the Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms races that would be coming out. He was disappointed that the Gnome had gotten the shaft once again. But in listing the races, I realized that the Half-Elf was the only non-monstrous or non-evil-curious race in there.

This created a very humorous picture in my mind, with the half-elf realizing that he's showed up at the wrong tavern for party creation. Everyone's looking at him and the sweat is beading. What can he say to the sinister and toothy faces all around him?

"Hey everyone, look! It's a gnome! Get him!"

 

[renau1g]

Good thing he's got that bonus to diplomacy right

 

[drothgery]

So I was telling my friend about the Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms races that would be coming out. He was disappointed that the Gnome had gotten the shaft once again. But in listing the races, I realized that the Half-Elf was the only non-monstrous or non-evil-curious race in there.

Aren't humans reprinted Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms? Oh, wait, you said non-evil-curious .

 

[Holy Bovine]

So I was telling my friend about the Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms races that would be coming out. He was disappointed that the Gnome had gotten the shaft once again.

Gnomes deserve the shaft. In fact they get the whole mine. Preferably with them at the bottom of it and it filled with cement.

I'd probably throw half elves in there too but I'm mean that way.

 

[Goken100]

Aren't humans reprinted Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms? Oh, wait, you said non-evil-curious .

Just to review, the first Essentials player book, Heroes of the Fallen Lands, is out. It has Dwarves, Elves, Eladrin, Halflings, and Humans. Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Product (Heroes of the Fallen Lands)
The second Essentials player book, Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms, comes out November 16. It has dragonborn, drow, half-elves, half-orcs, and tieflings. Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Product (Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms)

I don't blame anyone for getting confused. What up with those titles anyway?

 

[LostSoul]

I don't blame anyone for getting confused. What up with those titles anyway?

The first group make up the Empire of Nerath, and the others have had empires at some time, but it's now long gone and forgotten? That would be my guess.

 

[drothgery]

Just to review, the first Essentials player book, Heroes of the Fallen Lands, is out. It has Dwarves, Elves, Eladrin, Halflings, and Humans. Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Product (Heroes of the Fallen Lands)
The second Essentials player book, Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms, comes out November 16. It has dragonborn, drow, half-elves, half-orcs, and tieflings. Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Product (Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms)

I don't blame anyone for getting confused. What up with those titles anyway?

There are charts in Heroes of the Fallen Lands (and I'm not going off of internet rumors here, this is after looking at my copy) showing the races and classes/builds in both books. Humans are listed for both Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms. That's what I was going by.

 

[renau1g]

Humans are everywhere We're awesome

Maybe we can all get some thorphies?

(What's a thorphie you ask?) http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/294155-torphies.html

 

[Mr. Teapot]

But in listing the races, I realized that the Half-Elf was the only non-monstrous or non-evil-curious race in there.

That is sort of the point. The first book (Heroes of Fallen Lands) is the more traditional fantasy, where you get the standard 4 D&D classes (Cleric, Rogue, Wizard, Fighter) and the races that you see in Lord of the Rings (and have been in D&D forever).

The second book is for people looking for some fantasy that is a little bit less traditional. So you get the slightly weirder races, like the unusual races that WotC wants to make more iconic for 4e (Dragonborn and Tiefling) or the evil curious Drow and Half-orc. The second book also gives you classes that are recognizably D&D fantasy-ish, but not the big obvious basic 4 classes. So you get instead your Ranger, Druid, Warlock, etc.

 

[Obryn]

So, any speculation on how the Half-Elf will be changed up? Or if it will, for that matter?

I can't imagine that the "steal an at-will" ability would even work as well in an Essentials-only game as it did in the PHB. Which is to say, hardly at all.

-O